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NASA confirms inflatable expansion module to the International Space Station

Apr

17

2016

NASA on Saturday installed a new module on the International Space Station. It is an inflatable chamber being tested in the coming period. If the concept function properly, it can provide an inexpensive way to create more space.

Saturday morning the Dragon of SpaceX capsule arrived at the International Space Station to deliver the material for the new space. At 11:36 hours Dutch time NASA reported that the attachment was successful. At time of writing, however, NASA is still working on the installation of the inflatable module, the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM is called. the operation should be completed at the beginning of the afternoon. The coupling has NASA video online put .

After the operation is complete it will take until the end of May before the new room is actually inflated. After expansion, the BEAM is almost 4 meters long, with a diameter of about 3 meters. The aim is to test for two years how the material adheres in the space. During this time, astronauts will regularly enter the room measurements. If the test is successful then it is possible that NASA will make frequent use of inflatable modules to create space on the drive.

The biggest advantage of an inflatable module is that the material is light and takes up little space as it shot up from the earth with a rocket. Therefore there can be created a lot of space with relatively modest resources.